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NL Baseball Affair: Los Angels Dodgers at Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers hope to break their seven-game losing streak when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday night. The Dodgers took the series opener on Friday 6-4 and are -166 favorites to win on Saturday as well.

Los Angeles was 10-4 in the month of July prior to the all-star break, and they continued that good stretch into the second half Friday’s win, which marked Manny Machado’s Dodgers debut. Of course, while the Dodgers have climbed back to the top of the NL West, they hold a slim lead, as they are just 1.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks and two games up on the Rockies.

Milwaukee, on the other hand, lost six straight heading into the break and made is seven in a row with Friday’s loss. The Brewers are now three games back of the Cubs and just 1.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks and two games ahead of the Rockies for the second wild-card spot. It goes without saying that they are desperate for a win. The Los Angeles Dodgers are -166 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Finding His Form

Clayton Kershaw will get the start Saturday for the Dodgers. He’s struggled to get on track this year amidst a couple stints on the DL, although he owns a 2.74 ERA in 13 starts. Now that the all-star break is behind us, Kershaw can look to finally get in a rhythm as he pitches every five days.

On Saturday, Kershaw will face a Milwaukee lineup that’s missing Ryan Braun and Eric Thames to injuries. Braun is a .303 career hitter against Kershaw, so his absence is important. Outside of him, the only other Brewers hitter with any track record of success against Kershaw is Christian Yelich, who is 5 for 11. The likes of Lorenzo Cain and Jesus Aguilar will be key, although those two are a combined 1 for 11 with eight strikeouts against Kershaw in their career.

Be The Stopper

Meanwhile, the Brewers will send Chase Anderson to the hill to help snap their losing skid. Anderson is putting together another solid season, going 6-7 with a 3.78 ERA over 19 starts. He’s posted a 1.65 ERA in his three starts so far in July. Despite not being able to pick up a win in any of them, the Brewers have to be encouraged by his performance of late.

Of course, he’ll be facing a Los Angeles lineup that is now deeper and more dangerous with Machado in the middle of it. Anderson has also struggled in his career against Matt Kemp, who is 7 for 20 with two doubles and two home runs. Meanwhile, Yasmani Grandal, who may be the hottest hitter the Dodgers have right now, has three home runs in 16 career at-bats against Anderson.

The Streak Continues

The Milwaukee Brewers are far too good to lose eight in a row, but that’ll be hard to avoid. Kershaw is the last pitcher a team like Milwaukee wants to see in the middle of a losing streak. Anderson has pitched well, giving the Brewers a glimmer of hope. But his struggles against Kemp and Grandal, plus the presence of Machado are concerning. Bet on the Los Angeles Dodgers -166 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.